In the land of Uz, there was a man called Job: an innocent and virtuous man, such a one as feared God, and eschewed evil.

His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a very great household: so that he was one of the most principal men among all them of the east country.

And while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed, and burnt up all thy sheep and servants: and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three armies, and fell upon thy camels, which they have carried away: yea, and slain thy servants with the sword, and I only am gotten away, to tell thee."

While he was speaking, there came yet another, and said, "Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

They sat them down by him also upon the ground seven days and seven nights. Neither was there any of them that spake one word unto him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

and said, "Let the day perish, wherein I was born,

and the night in the which it was said, 'There is a man child conceived.'

For the thing that I feared is come upon me: and the thing that I was afraid of, is happened unto me.

Was I not happy? Had I not quietness? Was I not in rest? And now cometh such misery upon me!"

He stood there, and I knew not his face. An image there was, before mine eyes, and in the stillness heard I a voice.

I have seen myself, when the foolish was deep rooted, that his beauty was suddenly destroyed,

that his harvest was eaten up of the hungry; that the weaponed man had spoiled it, and that the thirsty had drunk up his riches.

If they had carried me to my grave as soon as I was born, then should I be now, as though I had never been.

yet when the stock getteth the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth bows, like as when it was first planted.

the waters pierce through the very stones by little and little, the floods wash away the gravel and the earth. Even so destroyest thou the hope of man in like manner.

Art thou the first man that ever was born? Or, wast thou made before the hills?

unto whom only the land was given, that no stranger should come among them.

I was some time in wealth, but suddenly hath he brought me to naught. He hath taken me by the neck, he hath rent me, and set me, as it were a mark for him to shoot at.

Mine own wife may not abide my breath, I was fain to speak fair for the children of mine own body.

Yea the children despised me, and when I was gone from them, they spake evil upon me.

When wickedness was sweet in his mouth, he hid it under his tongue.

Though he had plenteousness of everything, yet was he poor, and therefore he is but a wretch on every side.

which were cut down out of time, and whose foundation was as a running water,

"Oh that I were as I was in the months by past, and in the days when God preserved me;

As it stood with me, when I was young, when God prospered my house;

When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children stood about me;

And why? I put upon me righteousness, which covered me as a garment, and equity was my crown.

I was an eye unto the blind, and a foot to the lame;

I was a father unto the poor, and when I knew not their cause, I sought it out diligently.

For my root was spread out by the water's side, and the dew lay upon my corn.

My honor increased more and more, and my bow was ever the stronger in my hand.

When I laughed, they knew well it was not earnest; and this testimony of my countenance pleased them nothing at all.

When I agreed unto their way, I was the chief, and sat as a king among his servants; and when they were in heaviness, I was their comforter.

plucking up herbs from among the bushes, and the Juniper's root was their meat.

Their dwelling was beside foul brooks, yea in the caves and dens of the earth.

and my path have they clean marred. It was so easy for them to do me harm, that they needed no man to help them.

whose sides thanked me not, because he was warmed with the wool of my sheep?

For I have ever feared the vengeance and punishment of God, and knew very well that I was not able to bear his burden.

Have I rejoiced because my substance was great, and because my hand gat so much?

Have I ever rejoiced at the hurt of mine enemy? Or was I ever glad, that any harm happened to him? Oh no.

But Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite of the kindred of Ram, was very sore displeased at Job, that he called himself just before God.

And with Job's three friends he was angry also, because they had found no reasonable answer to overcome him.

So when Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, saw that these three men were not able to make Job answer, he was miscontent.

So that he gave answer himself, and said, "Considering that I am young, and ye be men of age, I was afraid, and durst not show forth my mind,

Then his flesh, which hath been in misery and trouble, shall be as it was in his youth.

"Where wast thou, when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell plainly if thou hast understanding.

Where wast thou, when the morning stars praised me together, and all the children of God rejoiced triumphantly?

"Hast thou given the morning his charge, as soon as thou wast born, and showed the day spring his place,

Knowest thou, when thou wast born, how old thou shouldest be?

And the LORD made Job richer than he was before: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand asses.